For John Kitzhaber, running bumper-to-bumper against GOP contender Chris
Dudley two weeks before election day, the timing of Wednesday’s Portland
visit by President Barack Obama couldn’t be any better.

But for afternoon commuters, it stinks.

“All
we can say,” said Portland police Capt. Todd Wyatt, “is that the
president will be arriving during the afternoon rush hour and traffic
will be a mess.”

Starting
about 2 p.m., police and Secret Service agents will start blocking off
several roads. “Many routes are being prepared,” Wyatt said. “We don’t
know which will be used until it’s time.”

His advice to homeward-bound commuters: “Be patient. It will end.”

That’s
right. Just mumble those words to keep yourself from being hypnotized
by the endless string of taillights in front of you.

In the city,
going by bike means you’ll probably be able to get around massive
backups by following bike routes and streets with bike lanes.

Taking
MAX is another option, but TriMet said light rail service will be shut
down when the president is on the move. Also, trains will roll past the
Convention Center station without stopping during Obama’s entire visit.

Line 6 buses won’t stop at the location either.

"When we are informed by the Secret Service, we will halt all MAX
service as the president arrives and departs the Oregon Convention
Center," said TriMet spokeswoman Denise Woodward. "We are
alerting riders to expect moderate to significant delays on MAX
throughout the afternoon and evening."

Maybe it’s a good day to ask the boss if you can work from home. If he’s a Republican, he just might let you.